---- ALLAN'S PERSPECTIVE ---- The left wing drives me crazy, and the right wing scares the shit out of me!

Allan's Perspective is not recommended for the politically correct, or the overly religious! Some people have opinions, and some have convictions ..., what we offer is Perspective!

We are just an advanced breed of monkeys on a minor planet of a very average star. But we can understand the Universe. That makes us something very special." Stephen Hawking.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Canada’s Big Shooters!

Who are Canada’s most influential people? You might be surprised

The Prime Minister might be an obvious choice, but
an annual ranking of Canada’s most influential men and women also
includes a few surprise players.

While names like Stephen Harper, Toronto rapper Drake and Liberal
Leader Justin Trudeau are arguably go-to choices, this year’s list of
most powerful Canadians by Maclean’s magazine also includes Calgary
Mayor Naheed Nenshi and the PM’s wife, Laureen Harper.
The magazine’s annual “Power Issue” hit newsstands on Thursday. The
list, which was expanded from 25 to 50 this year, includes Canadians
from all walks of life.

Naheed Nenshi-Mayor of Calgary – Is loved as mayor
of Calgary and is keen on making City Hall much more powerful. Calgary
is close to a deal with the province on a city charter that would
devolved more responsibilities explicitly onto the municipal governments
along with a slice of tax revenue. May be the most popular individual
politician in Canada right now.

Jerry Dias-President of Unifor, the mega-union
created this year by the merger of the Canadian Auto Workers and the
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers. He is expected to halt, or
even reverse the decline in big labour’s clout. Leads an impressive ,
-plus membership across two dozen economic sectors.

Mark Wiseman-President and CEO of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
He presides over a $ billion portfolio that amounts to the national
nest egg: 18 million Canadians need him not to screw up. At just
-years-old, he stands to be a major figure in Canadians business for
decades to come.

France Charbonneau-Superior Court judge – headed
proceedings into corruption in Quebec’s construction industry. The
Charbonneau Commission, and Charbonneau herself, has come to represent
Quebec’s collective disgust with corrupt elements within it. Expected
to table her report in . She has everyone from mobsters to politicians
worried.

Ray Novak-Stephen Harper’s Chief of Staff. Carries
a reputation as a discreet and loyal operator who gets things done.
Other than Laureen, nobody knows the Prime Minister better. Famously
lived in the loft above the garage at Stornoway when Harper was leader
of the opposition.

Galen Weston Jr.-Chairman of Loblaw Companies Limited. With
his $12.4 billion bid for Shoppers Drug Mart, he served notice he
wouldn’t be a stand-pat heir and TV shill. If the deal goes through, it
gives Canada a homegrown rival to the likes of Target Corp and
Wal-Mart.

Justin Trudeau-Leader of the Liberal Party. He’s
keeping his party near the top of the opinion polls. His ability to
dictate the public debate, as he did over the summer talking about
marijuana, is currently unrivalled. He faces a steep learning curve on
the floor of the Commons.

Julie Dickson-Current Superintendent of the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions.
She has emerged as a star among international advocates of tougher
banking regulation in the wake of the global credit meltdown. She
wields power over Canadian mortgage markets and bank capital
requirements, and her voice is hear far beyond Canada’s borders.

Mike Lazaridis-founder of BlackBerry and co-founder of Quantum Valley Investments,
which will only invest in businesses that want to exploit quantum
technology. Only one other like it in the world. Quantum technology is
not just a new way of making computers, it’s a vast new field of
technologies that never existed before.

Gerald Butts-Justin Trudeau’s top advisor

Beverley McLachlin-longest-serving chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada

Thomas Mulcair-Leader of the official Opposition

James Moore-Minister of Industry

Christy Clark-B.C. Premier

Pierre Karl Peladeau-largest shareholder of Quebecor, even though he stepped down as CEO in May

Laureen Harper-First Lady of Canada

Jason Kenney-Citizenship and Immigration Minister

Alex Pourbaix-President of energy and oil pipelines for TransCanada Corp.

Jenni Byrne-Deputy Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Harper

Marc Caira-Tim Hortons CEO

Steve Yzerman-former captain of the Detroit Red Wings, now the executive director of the Canadian men’s Olympic hockey team.

Heather Conway-Executive vice-president of English-language services of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

Anne Merklinger-Head of Own the Podium

Andrew McCartney-Managing director at Tribal DDB Toronto. He is one
of the marketing minds behind the McDonald’s advertising campaign “Our
Food. Your questions.”